Jiwaka Tradition And Culture
The Wahgi Society
The Tsenglaps (and Wahgi Society) had some traditional events and celebrations. The main event was called "Konghar" which means the Big Singsing and Pig Killing. Under the banner of the main Konghar ceremony, there were also minor events, such as Gheru Ghar, Peng Kulung Kokun, and Bolem Ghar. Gheru Ghar is a house built with special materials and nicely decorated both outside and inside. Inside the Gheru Ghar, they stored all the traditional artefacts. Only men and young boys (who have been gone through the initiation) may enter the Gheru Ghar. The Bolem Ghar is a small round house, which is less that two meters in circumference and not more than a meter in height. The Bolem Ghar is built in a secretive place and adorned with pigs jaws.
During the construction phase of the Bolem Ghar, there was also the Bamboo Flute event. Men and young boys will make flute out of bamboo and blow a certain pattern of tunes. It was a sacred event and village elders would always instruct young boys on how to blow this flute.
The Jiwaka People were not nomads. They settled down permanently in where they are living today. The Tsenglap way of life is centered around cultivating the land for gardening and domesticating animals. The only animal the Tsenglap people looked after were pigs, for killing during feasts. Dogs were kept as pets, and they were used in hunting. Few people looked after cassowary, they did not breed cassowary, chicks were captured in the wild.
Farming on the land was practised by the Tsenglaps and the Jiwaka people long time ago. The people planted kaukau (sweet potato), taro, yam, sugar cane, banana and a variety of vegetables and beans.
End Of Tsenglap Culture:The Beautiful Wahgi Culture is dying out as we move forward into the modern era. All the good singsing and dancing that were enjoyed in the good old days are fogotten by the younger generation. Even if we try to conduct such singsings, the good events will be spoiled by the Drugies and the Steamies. There are a lot of iron man out there who will cause trouble, and rape and the list goes on. A chain of events will unfold which will lead to tribal warfare, death, compensation, etc. So good bye to the old Tsenglap Culture !